Plant Simulation for Graphics Engines

Abstract

Plants may be visualized using an inertial animation model with Featherstone algorithm. Different levels of detail may be used for different blocks of plants.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 using, in a computer processor, an inertial animation model with Featherstone algorithm to render interaction of plants with physical phenomena.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  including providing visualization with a plurality of levels of detail. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  including automatically filling terrain blocks with plant depictions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  including assigning different levels of detail to different blocks. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  including performing collision detection between plants in a central processing unit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  including determining levels of detail in a graphics processing unit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  including assigning a weight coefficient to each plant in a block. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  including visualizing plants using triangles, the farther the plant is from the camera, the less triangles are used for visualization. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  including representing grass blades as spherical springs. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  including using a virtually inertial animation model. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executed by a computer to:
 build an inertial animation model with Featherstone algorithm to render interaction of plants with physical phenomena.   
     
     
         12 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to provide visualization with a plurality of levels of detail. 
     
     
         13 . The medium of  claim 12  further storing instructions to fill terrain blocks with plant depictions. 
     
     
         14 . The medium of  claim 12  further storing instructions to assign different levels of detail to different blocks. 
     
     
         15 . The medium of  claim 12  further storing instructions to perform collision detection between plants in a central processing unit. 
     
     
         16 . The medium of  claim 15  further storing instructions to determine levels of detail in a graphics processing unit. 
     
     
         17 . The medium of  claim 12  further storing instructions to assign a weight coefficient to each plant in a block. 
     
     
         18 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to visualize plants using triangles, the farther the plant is from the camera, the less triangles are used for visualization. 
     
     
         19 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to represent grass blades as spherical springs. 
     
     
         20 . The medium of  claim 11  further storing instructions to use a virtually inertial animation model. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising:
 a computer processor to create an inertial animation model with Featherstone algorithm to render interaction of plants with physical phenomena; and   a memory coupled to said processor.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , said processor to provide visualization with a plurality of levels of detail. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , said processor to fill terrain blocks with plant depictions. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , said processor to assign different levels of detail to different blocks. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , said apparatus including a central processing unit and a graphics processing unit coupled to said central processing unit, said central processing unit to perform collision detection between plants. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , said graphics processing unit to determine levels of detail. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , said processor to assign a weight coefficient to each plant in a block. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , said processor to visualize plants using triangles, the farther the plant is from the camera, the less triangles are used for visualization. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , said processor to represent grass blades as spherical springs. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , said processor to use a virtually inertial animation model.